(CNN) – Jeb Bush took to the pages of the Wall Street Journal to chart a course toward economic growth through the free market instead of government regulation.

In the op-ed published Monday, Bush said the country is at a cross roads where it must choose between rules passed in Washington, D.C. that ensure stagnant growth or the free market that though unpredictable, will lead to an increase in growth.
"Unless we are willing to explore the jagged line of freedom, we will be stuck in a straight line," the former Florida governor wrote. "And the straight line, it turns out, is a flat line."

Bush, the second son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush, has repeatedly said he is not considering a bid for the White House despite high profile urgings.

In Monday's piece, Bush drew on his eight years as governor of the Sunshine State to warn elected officials about the downside of increased guidelines. He said elected officials are hindering economic freedoms through laws while responding to calls to "do something … anything."

"Mayors, country chairs, governors and presidents never think their laws will harm the free market," Bush wrote. "But cumulatively, they do, and we have no imperiled the right to rise."

soundoff(32 Responses)

you are right, Jeb. Idiot demoncrats/big gov liberals only know how to destroy economies. They caused this entire mess we are in. Obama can`t dream of being half the man you are.

December 19, 2011 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

annie s

Jeb Bush, along with Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and other neo-cons, once issued a policy paper calling for world domination by the USA and complete takeover of the world's oil. The same group called on President Clinton to invade Iraq, years before they finally found a way to foist their desired war on the American people. I can think of no one more dangerous to lead America.

December 19, 2011 11:20 am at 11:20 am |

Roy Moss

More Bush fantasy. No economy in existance is a fully "free market" economy and with good reason.

December 19, 2011 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

fedup

The devil is asking for his power back. when he let the republicans and the tea-party use it for the pass three years they did a damn good job screwing America he got jealous. GREED, CORRUPTION, STUPIDITY is his claim to rule the world not true CHRISTIANS....

December 19, 2011 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

United We Stood

The country has no way out of the mess it has been placed in, by the rise of China, and the desertion of America by Corporate America.

Unless penalties are placed on companies who send their manufacturing to China, America will continue to decline, within the middle class, Making the country nothing but a monarchy of the wealthy over the common man, by BOTH political parties. The Democrats are actually trying to put such a dictatorship in place, at this time.

Close, but your final conclusion is so far off the rails, it's comical. Agree that notjhing is being done to prevent outsourcing of American jobs at the expense of our middle class. But alas, dictatorship? How so? Please provide specific examples with credible news sources.

December 19, 2011 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

Jane

Earth to Jeb Bush, who believes anyone can rise to prosperity in todays market if they work hard enough, I got news for you there is reason the gap between rich and poor is growing wider each year and it's not because of a lack of Americans unwillingness to work hard. Today more people are graduating from college and continuing to work hard, often like myself at two jobs just to make ends meet, but thanks to the rich sending our jobs overseas, using other forms of cheap labor, lining their CEO and other top mgt with huge bonuses and pay, often in a failing company, while paying those in the middle to lower reigns below what their worth or laying them off if things get tough economically (gotta keep them bonuses for the top going, however), and a host of other unfair practices that are placing a divide between the have and have not's. I still believe in capitalism, however, I no longer believe in unregulated capitalism because it's become clear what SOME of those who are fortunate enough to succeed in todays society are willing to do with their greed. Getting ahead in todays market now usually requires more than hard work, but I don't expect an out of touch rich politician, who was raised by a wealthy father who also served as president (by the way no disrespect towards Bush Sr., I admired his service to our country, both as president and his duty in WWII) to understand.

December 19, 2011 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

Frank

Perhaps many posters do not understand that the President and most members of both parties stand by free market economics as well. The difference is in the issue of UNregulated free markets versus regulated ones. The former gave us both the Great Depression and the Great Bush Recession.